Condemnation sought from Mrs Thatcher

A deputation of South Africans has called on Mrs Thatcher to condemn South Africa's repressive measures and protest about the deaths in detention.

The deputation, which met the Finchley and Friern Barnet MP in her constituency headquarters at Ballards Lane, North Finchley, also asked her to support-isolating South Africa.

The seven anti-apartheid protestors handed in a letter to Mrs Thatcher, setting out examples of injustice in the country and calling for an end to the regime. The letter asked the Opposition Leader to call for a halt in the trial of the Pretoria 12, charged with attempting to overthrow the government.

In her reply Mrs Thatcher assured the protestors that the Conservative Party was totally opposed to apartheid.

Her letter said: “We believe that the objective for South Africa must be rapid progress towards equal human rights for all South Africans, Furthermore, we have strongly condemned the recent repressive measures adopted by the South African authorities.”

But she does not agree with their suggestion that South Africa should be isolated and that all investment there should be halted.

“In my view, isolation will lead only to an increasingly negative and intransigent attitude in the part of white South African,” she said.